Sweet Dew Incident (Ganlu Incident) vs Rus'–Byzantine War (907)

Instead of a static defense, the Eunuch Faction adopted a dynamic counter-attack doctrine; upon detecting the ambush, they immediately secured the headquarters (the emperor) and then systematically hunted down the enemy leadership. The Imperial Forces lacked any contingency plan in the face of failure.

Faced with the barred Golden Horn, the Rus' adopted an asymmetric land maneuver instead of a dogmatic naval assault. Byzantium followed a passive defense doctrine relying on walls and neutralized the threat through diplomatic flexibility.

Siege/Challenge

Siege/Challenge

The Imperial Forces' center of gravity, as Li Xun planned, was supposed to be Wang Shoucheng's funeral where the eunuchs would gather en masse, but this opportunity was missed. Li Xun rushed an alternative plan but failed to concentrate his main striking power at the right point. The eunuchs, however, correctly identified their center of gravity: the emperor's person. By controlling him, they collapsed all resistance.

Oleg directed his center of gravity directly at Constantinople's walls, targeting the Byzantine decision center. Byzantium had concentrated its main combat power against the Arab navy, leaving a weak point of resistance at the capital.

Li Xun's 'sweet dew' (ganlu) deception was designed as a military ruse to lure the eunuchs into an ambush; however, the eunuchs neutralized this ruse through their own intelligence superiority. In contrast, the eunuchs employed a controlled deception by tricking Wang Fan with a false promotion promise.

Oleg's ruse of portaging ships overland was a classic deception operation that caught the Byzantine defense off guard. The chronicle's account of the failed poisoning attempt underscores Rus' superiority in the intelligence game.

The Eunuch Faction quickly deployed elite Shence Army units, creating an intense shock effect at Hanyuan Hall; the sword-armed troops of 500 each routed the imperial guards. Although no artillery or heavy weapons were used, this synchronized infantry assault triggered the enemy's psychological collapse.

The Rus' exploited the psychological shock effect of a massive fleet of 2,000 vessels; converting ships into wheeled vehicles provided tactical surprise. Byzantium could not employ Greek Fire as the engagement did not evolve into a static siege at the walls.

On the day of the incident, a gust of wind blew open a screen, allowing the eunuchs to see the armed soldiers hidden in the inspection area—an unexpected 'heavenly' intervention. The enclosed courtyards and narrow passages of Hanyuan Hall restricted the maneuverability of the imperial forces while providing the eunuchs an opportunity to retreat into a defensive position.

Advancing from the Black Sea to the Bosporus, the Rus' fleet leveraged geographical factors like currents and winds. When the Golden Horn was barred by a chain, they creatively adapted by portaging ships overland, a vivid example of Sun Tzu's principle of turning terrain to one's advantage.

The Eunuch Faction perfectly applied the principle of 'know yourself and know your enemy': they tracked Li Xun's movements, noticed the military buildup in the palace, and evaluated Han Yue's hesitation. The Imperial Forces underestimated the eunuchs' reaction speed and the loyalty of the Shence Army.

The Rus' attacked with knowledge of Byzantium's contemporary vulnerabilities (Arab naval threat, Bulgarian pressure); Oleg likely gathered intelligence via envoys and traders. Byzantium underestimated the Rus' intentions and strength.

The Eunuch Faction masterfully exploited the advantage of interior lines under Qiu Shiliang's command; they targeted the emperor directly and withdrew to the inner palace via the shortest route. The Imperial Forces could not execute a coordinated maneuver; Li Xun's impetuous decision and the fragmented movement of the troops destroyed the opportunity to trap the enemy on the exterior lines.

The Rus' executed a rapid strategic movement with a combined river-sea fleet, performing an interior line maneuver by portaging ships overland. The Byzantine fleet was tied down on the Arab front, limiting counter-maneuver capability.

The eunuchs' psychological superiority began with physically controlling the emperor; Wenzong's fear and silence immediately eroded the fighting will of the imperial loyalists, akin to Clausewitz's concept of 'friction.' Despite Li Xun's encouraging calls to his troops, the soldiers panicked in the face of the eunuchs' resolute resistance.

Oleg's gesture of fixing his shield to the capital's gates cemented the Rus' warriors' belief in victory and sowed fear among the Byzantines. In terms of Clausewitzian friction, lack of coordination on the Byzantine side led to morale attrition.

The eunuchs, through their extensive spy network inside the imperial court, learned of Li Xun's plan in advance, thus preempting the coup and preparing a counter-move. The Imperial Forces, overly reliant on the element of surprise, failed to take any diplomatic or intelligence measures to neutralize the eunuchs' awareness.

Oleg forced Byzantium to negotiate without a pitched battle by demonstrating military might and devastating the periphery; he gained psychological superiority by thwarting diplomatic sabotage like the poisoning attempt.